BROUGHTON PARK 12 - 36 WIDNES

This victory – which keeps them at the top of the table - now sets them up nicely ahead of Saturday’s potential ‘winner takes all’ fixture at home against Eccles.

Occasionally their own worst enemies and never completely at their best, the Wids did enough to secure the win. They scored six tries in the process, to eventually run out victors against a side who had begun to find some form again following their victory at Tarleton the previous week.

The weather for the game was bright and clear, but it was very cold with a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch. Nevertheless, it was dry and ideal for some free-flowing rugby.

The home side suffered an early blow with the loss of Dave Hanby who was forced to leave the field through injury inside the opening few minutes.

After that, some quick thinking by Widnes ended with Jack Krause eventually scrambling his way over the line for the game’s opening try after just eight minutes.

Not long afterwards, Widnes were able to capitalise on a Park mistake, as they shipped the ball out wide enabling Andy Clarke to cross for a try which he also converted.

The visitors should then have scored again, but instead it was Park who were able to respond as Michael Graham went over for a try in the corner, which was then goaled in style from the touchline to make it 7 – 12.

Park were growing in confidence now, and it took some big Widnes defence to keep their opponents at bay.

Wing man Alex Jones then went close from Josh Salter’s chip ahead, before it did come right once again for the visitors, as fullback Andy Clarke crossed for his second try, before then adding the extras.

The home side did finish the half strongly, but more dogged and determined Widnes defence, meant that there would be no further change to the scoreboard at half time.

The visitors introduced both Justin Winstanley and Mike Jones at the start of the second stanza, but they were soon under pressure once again.

After bombing a glorious opportunity to score following a long-range interception, the home side then conceded another five-pointer as Andy Clarke battled his way over the line to touch down to complete his hat-trick. It was also, the all-important bonus point try.

And, then, if that wasn’t enough, the same player then booted over a super touchline conversion into the teeth of the strong wind to make it 7 – 26.

Park were then denied a try, as Lawrence Tully lost possession as he reached out to score, and that mistake was immediately punished at the other end of the field as ‘Super-sub’ Tom Spencer scored the Wids fifth try just after the hour mark.

When a visiting player went into the sin-bin, Park then laid siege to the Wids line in an effort to get themselves back into the contest. But they failed to find a breakthrough.

For the visitors, it was left to Matty Lawton to raise the biggest cheer of the day, as the big prop forward dummied his way through on a rampaging run to the line to score his first try of the campaign.

The final word, though, was left to Park who scored a further try through centre Opotu-Addo Omar before the referee finally brought proceedings to a close, and wrap up another important victory for the Wids.

Head coach Andy McIntosh said afterwards “Broughton Park has always been a tough place to come and get a win. So to do that today is a credit to the lads.

It was a bit scrappy at times and we certainly didn’t have it all our own way, but we really scrambled well in defence. Our transition from turnover was very good today and we put some real pressure on them and took our chances when they came along to score out wide.

Overall, things to still work on but very pleasing to get an away win which keeps that momentum in the league going”.

Widnes: A Clarke, J Krause, J Patient, L Lawton, A Jones, K Leadbetter, J Salter, D Rourke, B Mercer, M Lawton, M Garrity, S Bryan, K Arndell, W Patient, T O’Neill (c). Reps: J Winstanley, M Jones, T Spencer.